adv. [ OE. yis, &yogh_;is, &yogh_;es, &yogh_;ise, AS. gese, gise; probably fr. geá yea + swā so. √188. See Yea, and So. ] Ay; yea; -- a word which expresses affirmation or consent; -- opposed to no. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Yes is used, like yea, to enforce, by repetition or addition, something which precedes; as, you have done all this -- yes, you have done more. “Yes, you despise the man books confined.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “The fine distinction between ‘yea' and ‘yes, ' ‘nay' and ‘no, ' that once existed in English, has quite disappeared. ‘Yea' and ‘nay' in Wyclif's time, and a good deal later, were the answers to questions framed in the affirmative. ‘Will he come?' To this it would have been replied, ‘Yea' or ‘Nay', as the case might be. But, ‘Will he not come?' To this the answer would have been ‘Yes' or ‘No.' Sir Thomas More finds fault with Tyndale, that in his translation of the Bible he had not observed this distinction, which was evidently therefore going out even then, that is, in the reign of Henry VIII.; and shortly after it was quite forgotten.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Yeast. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Yesterday. ] Last; last past; next before; of or pertaining to yesterday. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ An enemy ] whom yester sun beheld
Mustering her charms. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is now seldom used except in a few compounds; as, yesterday, yesternight, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. On the day last past; on the day preceding to-day; as, the affair took place yesterday. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. &yogh_;isterdai, AS. geostran dæg, from geostran, geostra, giestran, gistran, gystran, yesterday (akin to D. gisteren, G. gestern, OHG. gestaron, Icel. gær yesterday, to-morrow, Goth. gistradagis to-morrow, L. heri yesterday, Gr. &unr_;, Skr. hyas) + dæg day. Cf. Hestern. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The day last past; the day next before the present. [ 1913 Webster ]

All our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are but of yesterday, and know nothing. Job viii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A recent time; time not long past. [ 1913 Webster ]

The proudest royal houses are but of yesterday, when compared with the line of supreme pontiffs. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The evening of yesterday; the evening last past. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The morning of yesterday. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Yester. ] Of or pertaining to yesterday; relating to the day last past. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ AS. gystran niht. See Yesterday. ] On the last night. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The last night; the night last past. [ 1913 Webster ]